CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 29, 2023	Apr. 30, 2022	Apr. 24, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 6,471,471	$ 6,499,405	$ 5,912,066
Cost of sales	5,098,526	5,210,318	4,708,936
Gross profit	1,372,945	1,289,087	1,203,130
Operating expenses	1,096,974	1,132,085	992,523
Goodwill impairment	0	0	0
Operating income	275,971	157,002	210,607
Gains on investments	0	101,809	0
Other income (expense):
Other income, net	27,826	27,731	13,608
Interest expense	(33,636)	(20,288)	(24,284)
Income before taxes	270,161	266,254	199,931
Income tax expense	63,563	64,540	44,822
Net income	206,598	201,714	155,109
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(959)	(1,496)	(872)
Net income attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.	$ 207,557	$ 203,210	$ 155,981
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Patterson Companies, Inc.:
Basic (in usd per share)	$ 2.14	$ 2.09	$ 1.63
Diluted (in usd per share)	$ 2.12	$ 2.06	$ 1.61
Weighted average shares:
Basic (in shares)	97,027	97,277	95,599
Diluted (in shares)	97,815	98,514	96,664
Dividends declared per common share (in usd per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.04	$ 1.04
Comprehensive income
Net income	$ 206,598	$ 201,714	$ 155,109
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)	(8,788)	(19,966)	33,405
Cash flow hedges, net of tax	1,042	1,042	1,042
Comprehensive income	$ 198,852	$ 182,790	$ 189,556